Press Release

Approximately 2,350 Walkers Cover 2,700 Miles In S.C. BlueCross Walk @ Lunch Day Community Events

April 26, 2012

COLUMBIA – An estimated 2,350 people took steps toward improved health Wednesday, April 25, during four community events organized by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina to celebrate the sixth annual National Walk @ Lunch Day®.

The participants walked an estimated combined total of 2,785 miles - roughly the distance from Columbia, S.C., to Portland, Ore. - during the lunchtime walks at Marion Square in Charleston, Morgan Square in Spartanburg, the Statehouse in Columbia, and Falls Park in Greenville. Approximately 600 walkers took part in the Charleston walk, along with about 200 in Spartanburg, 850 in Columbia, and 700 in Greenville.

In addition to the community events, many South Carolina companies sponsored lunchtime walks for their employees.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies created National Walk @ Lunch Day to encourage working Americans to walk daily during their lunch breaks. Lunchtime walks are designed to fit into - not compete with - workers’ busy schedules. A half hour of walking each day has significant health benefits, including lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

“The lunch hour is a great time for people to work moderate exercise into their schedules,” said Dr. Laura Long, BlueCross’ vice president of clinical innovation and population health. “Just 30 minutes each day can make a big difference in a person’s health.”

About BlueCross BlueShield of South CarolinaHeadquartered in Columbia, S.C., and operating in South Carolina for more than 65 years, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina comprises 47 companies involved in health insurance services, the U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, other insurance and employee benefits services, and a philanthropic foundation that funds programs to improve health care and access to health care for South Carolinians.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 37 independent, community-based and locally-operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for
nearly 105 million
members – one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog, for up-to-date information about BCBSA.